Page 68 of Wedlocked

“Can I ask you something?” Rory was suddenly serious, her eyes intent on my face.

“Of course,” I said. “What is it?”

“Do you think Jamie would be upset if Ryan also went to the qualifiers?”

I jolted up, water splashing the woman at my feet. She gasped a little, grabbed a towel, and started patting her shirt.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed. “You told me to sit still, and I just can’t seem to manage.”

“It’s okay,” she murmured, still patting her shirt.

“No, it isn’t. Please accept my apology. I just got so excited. My friends and I haven’t had a day together without our loud boyfriends in so long. I forgot where I was for a moment.”

The woman chuckled. “It’s okay. We are done with the water anyway. Time for polish.” She held up the bottle I’d selected. “Pink?”

“Yes, please.” I agreed. All four of us were getting the same shade of pink. “I’ll be a statue,” I promised, settling back and making a mental note to double her tip.

Once I was still, I glanced over at the girls who were all in various stages of also having their toes polished.

“Rory, is Ryan thinking of the Olympics?” I asked.

She nodded reluctantly.

“That’s amazing!” Landry exclaimed.

“Why do you seem like it isn’t?” Jess asked her.

Rory glanced back at me. “I think Ry’s worried Jamie will feel like he’s invading his dream.”

I wrinkled my nose. “But they’re best friends.”

Rory tossed her hands in the air. “That’s what I said.”

“They don’t even swim the same stroke. They wouldn’t even be in direct competition,” Landry pointed out.

“I said that too!” Rory exclaimed.

“You seemed kinda nervous to ask me about it, though,” I pointed out.

Rory sighed. “I think Ryan’s worrying rubbed off on me.” She was sheepish. “But not enough because he told me not to say anything to you.”

“Really? Why?”

Rory shrugged. “Like I said, I think he just doesn’t want Jamie to feel like he’s overstepping. You know? Trying to steal the limelight.”

“There’s enough light for both of them,” I said.

“They drive the same car. They finish each other’s sentences and share a tiny dorm room,” Jess said.

“Plus, they’ve been swimming together all their lives,” Landry put in.

Jess nodded. “Seems like doing the Olympics together is a given.”

“Might actually make the intense training more bearable.” Landry considered.

“Jamie really isn’t the type to get territorial,” I said. “Unless it’s about me.”

Rory nodded. “I know. I told him to talk to Jamie, but he hasn’t.”

---